education

California Governor Jerry Brown has released an updated budget proposal that includes more money for schools this year, and less overall spending next year.

His spending plan for the fiscal year that starts in July includes about $1.3 billion less than his January proposal. Brown says the state’s economic picture has weakened due to the federal sequester and the federal payroll tax change.

“We have climbed out of a hole with a Proposition 30 tax. That is good, but this is not the time to break out the champagne,” says Brown.

Teacher Jenna Perry’s 7th grade English class at Fresno Unified’s Yosemite Middle School sounds like most others. Kids work to finish up their assignments, as the period is about to end. But there is something that makes her classroom different.

“Ok, before we leave today, let’s go over our class goal today. Somebody tell me, should we earn a point for staying on task? Why or why not? Regina?” says Perry.

At the end of every class before students are dismissed, they go over their goals, which are spelled out in a social contract they all wrote and all signed.

There’s a paradox in many of the reactions to Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal to give California schools more flexibility on how they spend their state tax dollars. There’s general support around the Capitol for breaking down the funding walls surrounding several dozen programs. But as Ben Adler reports from Sacramento, everyone seems to have a favorite program they want to protect.

College students wouldn’t face the threat of lenders garnishing their wages if they can’t repay private student loans under a bill passed by the California Assembly today. Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento.

Unlike federal student loans, private student loans can’t be forgiven in bankruptcy and banks can garnish up to 25 percent of a student’s wages. Democratic Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski authored a bill he says would help under-employed, debt-saddled graduates. He says the bill would simply eliminate one way private lenders can collect repayment.

Restoring money to California’s college financial aid program is proving to be popular with both Democrats and Republicans in the State Assembly. But even if they agree on the issue, Governor Jerry Brown may not. Katie Orr reports from the State Capitol.

Supporters of restoring funding levels to the state’s college financial aid program say it’s a financially savvy move. “Cal Grants” are awarded to low-income students attending public and private universities in California. The program’s budget has been slashed in recent years.

In an effort to increase education about agriculture and sustainability, the Fresno Grizzlies have partnered with a local charter high school to build a garden at Chuckchansi Park. FM89’s Ezra Romero visited the stadium; spoke with the teenagers planting the garden and has this report.

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For the past week and a half a group of seniors from ACEL Charter High School in Fresno have been huffing and puffing at Chuckchansi Park. But they aren’t running bases or hitting pop flies – they’re building and planting a garden.

When state lawmakers were beating their chests last year about the need to reduce pension liabilities, they didn’t actually do anything about the largest liability of all.

The California State Teachers Retirement System – known as CalSTRS – is facing a projected $70 billion shortfall. KPCC’s Julie Small attended a sobering hearing Wednesday on the state’s options for closing the gap.

Friday is the deadline for California school districts to issue teachers layoff notices for the academic year that starts in the fall. As Ben Adler reports from Sacramento, there’s a huge drop-off in the number of pink slips this year.

The leader of the California Senate is proposing legislation that would provide online courses for credit at the state’s colleges and universities. As Ben Adler reports from Sacramento, the measure is both a work in progress – and a balancing act.

With California’s higher education system at capacity, the most popular courses fill up fast – especially courses students need to graduate. Richard Copenhagen is a College of Alameda student and president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges.